A group of US attorneys general from 35 states filed an antitrust complaint against Alphabet's Google on Thursday, making it the third lawsuit against the online search and advertising company to be filed this autumn.
Why are dozens of US states suing Google?
Each of the lawsuits focuses on different aspects of Google’s business operations.
Thursday’s lawsuit is focused on Google's search business and advertising, and what attorneys general call an attempt by Google to use exclusionary agreements to dominate newer technology, such as smart speakers, televisions and cars.
"Google is preventing competitors in the voice-assistant market from reaching consumers through connected cars, which stand to be a significant way the internet is accessed in the near future," Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said.
Another lawsuit filed on Wednesday focuses on Google’s dominance in digital advertising.
The multi-state lawsuit led by the Texas attorney general alleged that Google had reached an illegal deal with Facebook to maintain a hold on the lucrative digital advertising market.
What about the other federal lawsuit earlier in autumn?
The US Justice Department and 11 Republican state attorneys general sued Google in October in the most significant monopolisation case in more than two decades.
The case focused on Google’s agreements with Apple and other device makers to make Google the default search engine.
The attorneys general who filed the lawsuit on Thursday are requesting that their case become part of the lawsuit led by the Justice Department.
What does this mean for Google users?
The lawsuit could result in accountability for Alphabet’s actions in possible monopolisation and exclusionary agreements.
Depending on how the cases develop, it could force Google into a tough position in which the US government would insist on greater competition in spaces the company controls, such as search, online advertising and digital services.
This would mean a greater number of choices for users.
Are there other global efforts to rein in Google?
Yes, in the EU, particularly. The organisation's legal teams have held the tech giant accountable for monopolisation, exclusionary tactics and data privacy issues.
In rare acts of regulation, the EU ordered the company to make changes and adjust practices in past years.
The EU has fined the company billions of euros in antitrust penalties, including a record fine of €4.34 billion ($5.32bn).
How significant are these cases in the US?
The US lawsuits, in addition to two filed against social media giant Facebook this month, promise to be the biggest antitrust cases in a generation.
They look as significant as the lawsuit against Microsoft filed in 1998, which was credited with clearing the way for the explosive growth of the internet.
The lawsuits also mark a rare moment of agreement between Democrats and the Trump administration, whose criticisms seem to focus less on antitrust concerns and more on allegations that the platforms stifle conservative voices.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
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MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
